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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA Shamel Bratton has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference men’s lacrosse player of the week for his play in leading Virginia to an 11-10 victory over North Carolina in the Inside Lacrosse Big City Classic at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
This is the second time he has received the league’s weekly honor; he also received the award after the Cavaliers defeated Syracuse in late February.
The sophomore from Huntington Station, N.Y., led the team in total points (4) and shared as the leading goal scorer (3). Virginia fell behind by four goals (7-3), its biggest deficit of the season, midway through the second quarter before Bratton got going. He turned the momentum to Virginia’s favor with goals on three consecutive possessions over a three-minute-and-10-second span to pull his team within one goal at 7-6 at halftime.
Bratton’s three goals started the Cavaliers on a five-goal run that enabled them to seize control. Virginia took the lead for good with fewer than two minutes remaining in the third quarter. Bratton assisted on Garrett Billings’ goal with 9:59 left in the game, the team’s 11th goal of the game, as UVa took a two-goal lead. The Tar Heels scored later but were never able to tie the score.
Virginia returns to action Saturday against Duke in Durham, N.C. The game is set to face off at 4 pm and will be televised by ESPN2.